Gun Control Activists Demand Visa Sever Ties With NRA

More than 5,000 gun control supporters have signed a petition demanding that Visa severs its business ties with the National Rifle Association, The Hill reported.

A group of protesters congregated outside the credit card company's Washington headquarters on Thursday to present the petition, which claims that Visa's partnership with the gun lobby is helping to prevent the passage of tough new firearm controls.

The Coalition to Stop Gun Violence allege that purchases made with the NRA Visa card help fund the NRA in its fight to stop stronger gun protections, including expanded federal background checks for firearm purchases.

The group noted that NRA's website urged its members to "defend freedom" by buying goods with an NRA Visa Card.

According to The Hill, the site claimed that more than $20 million has been added to the NRA's coffers through card purchases, which will help finance NRA causes.

"We're here to call out Visa for their relationship with the NRA," said Lori Haas, whose daughter was shot during the 2007 Virginia Tech massacre. "Why are they in bed with the NRA?"

Haas handed in the petition and spoke to Visa's officials about the coalition's concerns. "They listened, but made no comments of any substance," she said. "No commitment."